Shubman Gill, the India Test and ODI captain and T20I vice-captain, is rehabbing from his neck sprain at the Centre of Excellence (COE). He recently completed one unrestricted batting session, responding well with no flare-up of symptoms.

India Today has reported that as part of his rehabilitation, he will work on incremental batting and ground conditioning over the next few days. Gill is set to play his final RTP (Return to Play) clearance match on December 5, 2025, which will determine his readiness for selection in South Africa's T20Is, which begin on December 9.

Team management and medical personnel are cautiously optimistic, citing his steady improvement and the importance of a fully healthy Gill in the run-up to the T20 World Cup 2026. India's T20I team for the South Africa series is scheduled to be announced on Wednesday (December 3), but the decision now depends on Shubman Gill's fitness status.

His participation in the T20Is is not ruled out, and he may be eligible for the final two or three games, depending on how the CoE (Centre of Excellence) assesses his recovery time.

Gill retired wounded after injuring his neck while playing a sweep shot during India's first innings in the inaugural Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens, and he was momentarily hospitalized in Kolkata. Despite being freed the next day, he continued to experience difficulty, ruling him out of the final Test and ODI series.

Meanwhile, the selection committee is expected to confirm Hardik Pandya's return after recovering from a quadriceps injury sustained during the Asia Cup in September.

Hardik Pandya gave a Player of the Match performance for Baroda against Punjab in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy tournament. He scored a brilliant 77*, helping Baroda chase the 223-run target.

(India Today Report)